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The beginning of 19 presents to us a view from heaven of the celebration over God’s judgment of Babylon. This is followed up with an announcement of a marriage feast to happen soon. This text shows us that a new reality is upon us. The old is passing away and the new is about to come. The goodness of this news is dependent on the object of a person’s worship.

Last week, we got a vision of a prostitute riding the beast. In chapter 18, John is made privy to a detailed word on what will truly become of her. This is a passage that continues to show us what the final judgment of all things will look like. Babylon is fallen. And with it, we see a very sharp contrast in the reaction to this news; depending on the perspective it comes from.

As we continue in John’s vision in chapter 17, his attention is now drawn to a woman. But this woman is very different from the one in chapter 12. This is a fantastically repulsive picture that actually causes John to marvel for a moment. Though this part of Revelation is, again, chock-full of difficult imagery it is important for us to understand what is being said here since it helps us further understand the world we live in.

In Chapter 16, the hour of judgment has come. And the image in which we see it here is with seven angels pouring out the seven bowls of God’s wrath. Each bowl seemingly more intense than the last. But its in the contrasting responses over these things from heaven and on earth where we truly see the difference between those who stand with the Lord. and those who stand against him.

In chapter 15, John sees another sign. It is a moment of final preparation before the final judgment comes down. And the reaction that John sees in this moment is one of praise and worship to the Lamb. This new mini-series within our walk through Revelation marks out the final death throes and destruction of the world system as we know it. It is dark, but it will bring us to the doorstep of the glorious new heavens and ne earth.

After a mountain-top vision from the text last week, John now gives a startlingly dark description of what awaits those who reject the living God and worship the beast. This week’s passage contains probably the most explicit reference to the nature of God’s wrath in all of the scriptures and so it is rightfully met with a sense of trembling. But ultimately, this is a word to encourage the saints to endure all the more.

This week, we are back in the book of Revelation and walked through the first five verses of chapter 14 together. This chapter comes on the heels of John’s visions of the two beasts that make war on the saints cause those who do not worship the image to be slain. But chapter 14 opens up with a vision of pure joy and hope for God’s faithful. It is a vision to give God’s people the encouragement to sustain them through tribulation.

Message from Pastor Mike Matheson on April 9, 2023

A king is coming for his people and he will set up a city and kingdom unlike any before. This was true in the days of Zerchariah and it still remains true for us today. We just have more information now. Palm Sunday is the recognition that Jesus has always been the king that his people have been waiting for. He has come to us already, but will come again to finish the job completely.

Message from Pastor Mike Matheson on March 26, 2023